Chapter 37: Secret Envoy of the Heretical Sect (2)

I had known a secret envoy of the Heretical Sect from my past life, back when I was working as an exorcist.

He was a Heretical Sect sorcerer skilled in soul-related arts, and I believed he could awaken the old man’s soul.

In my previous life, this secret envoy had built up quite a reputation in the region while working as a fortune teller.

‘If I go to the region where he operated in my past life, I should be able to find him.’

“Let’s head to Guyong Street. Ask around and people will point you in the right direction.”

Namwook, who had climbed up onto the driver’s seat, asked the passersby and headed toward Guyong Street.

It didn’t take long to get there.

We arrived after about half a shichen. Guyong Street was lined with inns and lodges.

Since fortune tellers needed to operate where there were plenty of people to make money, they set up shop in such bustling areas.

“Let’s first secure a room at an inn.”

We found a large inn that could accommodate our carriage and went inside.

“Everyone else, please rest in the guest rooms. I’ll go look for the person we need.”

Mo Biyeong couldn’t let me go alone and followed after me.

By now, Mo Biyeong had completely memorized the incantations I had taught her, and all that was left was for her to internalize them through training.

On the other hand, the Two Wook Sword Demons still hadn’t fully grasped the insight needed to make the incantations their own. Especially Namwook—since he had to drive the carriage, he had fallen behind in his understanding. That was why he seemed the most regretful when we arrived in Zhengzhou.

Knowing this, I left the two of them at the inn and said with a guilty look,

“I’m sorry, Young Master.”

“No need. It’s unnecessary for all of us to go. One instructor is more than enough. Please, don’t worry about us and focus on mastering the incantations.”

His consideration made them feel grateful once again.

Jong Seok couldn’t leave Jong Munhye alone either, as she was still adjusting her qi due to the meridian damage.

“I’m sorry I can’t follow you, sworn brother.”

“It’s fine. I’m only going to find someone. Just rest for now.”

Seeing Jong Munhye’s serious expression, I understood Jong Seok. Even if I asked now, she wouldn’t say anything. I decided to wait until she chose to speak on her own.

I asked the inn servant,

“Do you know where someone called the ‘One Who Connects All Lives’ might be on this street?”

In my previous life, the secret envoy of the Heretical Sect had gone by the nickname ‘One Who Connects All Lives.’

“I know him.”

“Where can I find him?”

“You can’t meet him right now.”

“What? Why not?”

“There’s a rumor going around that the One Who Connects All Lives is currently imprisoned by the Shangguan Clan and will be executed—beheaded—sometime tomorrow.”

“What? Beheaded? What’s the reason…?”

The inn servant just blinked blankly, so I quickly handed him an iron coin.

Then the servant, now acting like someone in the know, sat down on a chair and began explaining.

“The One Who Connects All Lives read the fortune of a young lady from the Shangguan Clan. It was just another reading for a customer who had come to see him. But after hearing the fortune, the young lady suddenly went mad during training and fell into a coma. The incident caused quite a stir in Zhengzhou at the time. She had no shortage of admirers. So the Shangguan Clan captured the fortune teller and are trying to execute him. They believe he must’ve done something to make her lose her mind.”

Mo Biyeong, who was listening, asked,

“In such a case, shouldn’t the government intervene? How can the Shangguan Clan execute a civilian on their own?”

“The local magistrate has strong ties with the Shangguan Clan, so they’re allowed to handle things like this on their own.”

“Hmm.”

I fell into deep thought, and Mo Biyeong tilted her head in confusion.

‘Did the Young Master have something important to ask that man?’

I pondered for a moment.

First, I tried to recall what happened to the One Who Connects All Lives in the future. Since he was still alive back then, he must have survived whatever happened with the Shangguan Clan. But it was said he never lifted his head toward them again, suggesting he had suffered some grave humiliation.

However, I had no information on how he survived.

‘Is it okay for me to meet him?’

As the thought that the future could change took root, countless doubts began swirling in my mind.

But if I kept thinking like that, nothing would ever get done. I pushed aside worries about the future and focused on how to meet the One Who Connects All Lives.

To meet him, I needed to go to the Shangguan Clan. In my past life and this one, I had no connection with them.

I had bought items from their merchant group a few times, but there was nothing memorable about it.

Still, because of Hae Cheollyeong, I had to visit them anyway.

But I lacked a proper reason.

I racked my brain, trying to recall anything about the Shangguan Clan from my past life, but came up empty.

‘Should I just visit them anyway?’

I shook my head. That wasn’t a wise approach.

Which clan would welcome an uninvited Young Master of the Heavenly Central Sect, especially one with no connections?

Besides, the Heavenly Central Sect wasn’t influential enough to be treated as a prestigious guest.

But as they say, even if the sky falls, there’s always a way out.

Just when I least expected it, a sliver of hope appeared from an unexpected place.

“Oh my, isn’t that Young Master Yong?”

Someone called out to me from behind as I walked weakly down Guyong Street. I turned toward the voice with a subtle expression.

“Am I not welcome? You’re frowning so hard.”

“Mm.”

I let out a grunt like an old man and looked at the woman silently.

Upon seeing her, Mo Biyeong clasped her fists and bowed.

“Greetings, Lady Jaegal. But we saw you at your clan not long ago—how are you already here?”

Mo Biyeong asked what I was about to say, so I gave her an approving glance. I was surprised to meet Jaegal Yohye in such a place, but kept my tone composed.

“It’s a surprise to meet you here.”

Jaegal Yohye returned the courtesy with a clasped-fist salute.

“I never imagined Young Master Yong would be in Zhengzhou.”

She recalled how I had coldly turned down her suggestion to travel together to Zhengzhou, saying I had business elsewhere. Now, it seemed like I had lied because I didn’t want to accompany her.

She spoke to the woman next to her.

“Sister, that’s Young Master Yong Hwarin.”

The woman, with a pure and delicate beauty, looked slightly startled and then lowered her head.

From the fact that she didn’t clasp her fists in greeting, I guessed she wasn’t trained in martial arts.

“I’m Shangguan Yuseol.”  

“I am Yong Hwarin of the Heavenly Central Sect.”

As I offered my greeting, I inwardly rejoiced.

I had just found a way to enter the Shangguan Clan.

‘Thanks to Jaegal Yohye, things are going to go a lot smoother.’

After the brief exchange of greetings, Jaegal Yohye spoke up.

“By the way, I heard an interesting story on the way to Zhengzhou.”

“What kind of story did you hear?”

“I heard that your name, Young Master Yong, is already spreading throughout Henan and becoming a frequent topic of discussion.”

“Ah! There were a few fights on the way to Zhengzhou, and it seems some fellow martial artists thought well of me and gave me a nickname.”

I hadn’t expected my alias to spread so quickly. I figured it would take at least a month to become known throughout Henan, but it was faster than I thought.

“They say that after you defeated Jeok Gwang and Do Gye-gong, and even drove away Gocheok—who is famous in Hubei—people have started calling you the ‘Flying Dragon Sword Hero’. They’re saying that a true chivalrous warrior has finally emerged in the latter days of the current generation.”

Jaegal Yohye couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

No matter how clever or brilliant she was, people would envy her and never give her a good alias.

Even she had been labeled with the infamous nickname “Jaegal Witch.”

“You’d be mistaken if you thought people of the martial world are generous. They’re actually narrow-minded, the kind to refuse acknowledging someone else’s good deeds. And yet, the fact that you received such a favorable nickname means you must have moved even those hard-hearted people.”

I glanced over at her, surprised by the rare compliment—only for it to end in sharp sarcasm, as always.

“But keep in mind—if you want that nickname to last, you’ll have to work for it. Playing the role of a good person isn’t easy.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

I lightly cut off her jab with a simple word of thanks.

It was true that the escorts and merchants had spread the rumors far and wide in no time.

Shangguan Yuseol looked at me and said,

“I heard that story just a little while ago, too. It’s an honor to meet the person himself. Nowadays, the number of righteous warriors is declining, while demonic and criminal cultivators are on the rise, so everyone is glad about your appearance, Young Master Yong.”

Shangguan Yuseol spoke with a shy expression.

Jaegal Yohye had never seen this prim and proper woman complimenting a man before.

‘Oh? What’s this now?’

A strange ripple echoed through her chest.

“I was only acting on the sense of justice I’ve always believed in. It’s nothing to be praised.”

It wasn’t a reflexive show of humility but a genuine, bashful modesty, which made Yuseol like him even more.

Feeling awkward from the compliments, I changed the subject.

“By the way, Lady Jaegal, what brings you here?”

“Like I said before, I had business in Zhengzhou. But now I don’t understand why you were so cold in rejecting my offer to travel together—when you were headed here anyway.”

She clearly remembered inviting me to travel together as far as the route toward the Heavenly Central Sect, since she herself was headed to Zhengzhou.

Jaegal Yohye continued,

“My elder sister by bond, Shangguan Mijong, is ill. So Byeok and I rushed here to see her.”

I quickly changed the subject to avoid her glare.

“Oh, I see. That must be difficult for Lady Shangguan.”

“Yes.”

Yuseol lowered her head as she answered.

It seemed thinking of her sister made her emotional.

“And what brings you here, Young Master Yong?”

I smiled inwardly at her question.

Time to use the pretext I had prepared beforehand.

“My household entrusted something important to the One Who Connects All Lives, and I came to retrieve it.”

Yuseol looked up.

“The One Who Connects All Lives? Are you talking about Nan Myeonggwak?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“Ah, well, that man is currently at our main house…”

“Is that so? Then I’ll just wait for him to return.”

“No. He won’t be coming back.”

Her expression gradually darkened.

Mo Biyeong quietly observed, unable to tell what scheme I was pulling.

She couldn’t understand why I was pretending not to know the very obvious fact that the One Who Connects All Lives was currently captured by the Shangguan Clan and scheduled for execution tomorrow.

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